A Treasury of Divine Raptures, Epigrams · Letter A
A
1. On Abba.
OH! I have ſinn'd before the Judges face,
And juſtice ſtorms; ſo vile am I, ſo baſe,
I dare not plead, and yet I cannot fly
From Gods all-viewing, bright-refulgent eye.
I have offended Heav'n, infring'd his Laws;
And now methinks incenſed Juſtice draws
His keen Steletto, at one fatal blow,
T'effect mine everlaſting overthrow.
And muſt thou then for ever be undone,
Poor trembling Soul? make in to th' Judges Son,
Remembreſt not how his dear bloud was ſpilt
Upon the Croſs, to anſwer for thy guilt?
How he was dead, entomb'd, roſe, intercedes
For thee, and how afreſh for ſin he bleeds.
Get Chriſt thy friend, and thou wilt quickly ſee
The breach made up, betwixt thy God and thee.
Go in thy Saviors name, go make thy moan,
And pour thy pray'rs before Gods gracious throne
Beg his aſſiſting Spirit ſo much the rather
Becauſe thou maiſt through it call Abba Father.
God out of Chriſt is a conſuming fire,
In him our Father, granting our deſire,
In things that are conſonant to his Will,
And for our real good, how doth he fill
Our lives with bleſſings, he hath Love for all
Who can in truth him Abba Father call.
He owns as ſons, thoſe that his Son do own,
Believing on his Name; to them alone
The golden Scepter of his pleaſed grace,
He reacheth forth, them his ſweet arms imbrace▪
He bears with them, accepts with what they do▪
And gives them his Paternal Bleſſing too.
Sinners made Sons! free Grace to this muſt move
O here is the Meridian of Love!
Mirror of Mercies! Rebels to be crown'd,
And ſwine made ſons, O this is Love profound
2. On an Abetter.
SAtans commands (oppos'd to Gods) are ten
Which are obſerved by the moſt of men,
This lying Prince heartens us on to ill,
Tells us his Laws are eaſie to fulfil.
But God's are hard, beſides his pay is greater,
And thus the Dev'l becomes the Souls Abetter.
3. On Ability.
MAn can do nothing of himſelf, unleſs
God give him leave, 'tis wiſdom to expreſs
If God ſo pleaſe, to morrow we'l purſue
Such and ſuch things. Once a preſumptuous Jew
Said thus t'his friends, to morrow Ile be bleſt
And crownd with mirth, the Bridal-chamber dreſt
Reſolv'd I am, to frolick out the day
With my fair Bride, and who dare ſay me nay?
And when 'tis night, I do intend to meet,
My Souls delight, within the Genial Sheet;
I will, I will, whether God will or no:
Blaſphemous wretch! to morrow gone, both go
To bed, but lo! before the Game was vy'd,
Death ſtruck the jovial Bridegroom and his Bride.
4. On Abjuration.
IN Baptiſm, we to Chriſt our ſouls betroth,
The World, Fleſh, Satan, do renounce by oath.
But ah! our words prove wind, our minds do vary
And we t'our Abjuration walk contrary.
5. On an Abcedary.
THe Worlds a School, and we to School are ſet
To learn Love, in Afflictions Alphabet,
That Chriſt-croſs row, but ah! how dul! how ſlow
Are we to learn? till God do make us know.
O Heaven, I crave that thou wilt be my Tutor,
And make thy Spirit of Grace my co-adjutor.
6. On Abridgment.
THe World's a Book in Folio, fairly writ
With Gods own hand, the creatures found in it
Are Letters, ſpelling out the Authors Glory,
And man's th' Abridgment of that ample ſtory.
7. On Abſence.
ALas! alas! we know not how to prize
A real good, while 'tis before our eyes:
No ſooner gone, oh then we can ſet forth
Its praiſe, and prize it for it's real worth;
But yet we ſoon forget our abſent friends,
And laud the preſent out of baſe ſelf ends.
*Carendo potius quam fruendo nos bona noſtra intelligimus Cic. Poma fugientia ſunt gratiſſima. Vaneſcit abſens & novus intrat amor.8. On Abſolution.
GOd's Abſolution is a full diſcharge
Of ſins, paſt, preſent and to come, at large:
This to Gods People only doth belong,
And ſerve to make their Faith when weak, more ſtrong.
Popiſh Indulgences, for future fins,
Are meer Decoys, and Soul-beguiling Gins:
Make men licentious impudent in evil,
To go (if poſſible) beyond the Devil.
Teach ſimple Souls to ſay, God gives us pardon
Ev'n while they ſin, was the like ever hard on?
Good Lord forgive us, we have broke thy Law,
The Pope▪s forgiveneſs, is not worth a Straw.
Abſolve potentially God only can,
And therefore not the Pope, the Pope's a Man.
9 On Abſtinence.
TH' abſtemious perſon's diet, is not large,
He's one that feeds at frugal Natures charge,
Forbears unlawful, yea and lawful things,
Sometimes for the great benefit it brings;
This fits for duty, is the bodies friend▪
How ſweet when other graces it attend!
Such as abſtain from meat, but practiſe evils
Are like meat-wanting, but ſin-having Devils.
10. On Abſurdity.
TO make a Garment for the Moon,
To drein the Ocean with a Spoon,
To build up Caſtles in the Ayr;
Before foul Swine to caſt Pearls fair,
To paint the Dolphin in the Woods;
Or Savage Boare in liquid Floods;
To light a Candle at noon day;
To ſeek for Water in the Sea:
To ſet the Fox to keep the Geeſe;
To wreſt the Club from Hercules.
To put the Cart before the Horſe,
To ſeek a Bleſſing in a Curſe,
Is held abſurd, to think to win,
A glorious Crown, yet live in Sin;
Prepoſt'rous is, none can Heav'n gain,
Without the price of labours pain.
11. On Abundance.
THe radiant Splendor of thoſe things on earth,
Dazles our Eyes to things of Nobler birth;
Care-cumbred Martha, cannot act like Mary,
Forgets to ſeek that one thing neceſſary;
How many are impov'riſhd by their Riches,
Made Spirit'aly poor, the World bewitches.
But ah! how rare to ſee a man inherit
A wealthy Purſe, with an impov'riſh…d Spirit.
Let Abraham much reſpect to Hagar ſhow,
She will ere long over her Miſtriſs crow;
Plenty of places maketh oftentimes,
Men fouly guilty of nefandous crimes.
Rich Sodom, was a Nurſerie of ſins,
And Jeſhurun when fat, to kick begins;
Nay, full-fed Iſrael committeth now
Abomination, and hath broke her vow.
Laodicea flow'd in wealthy ſtore,
And yet (alas!) was miſerable poor.
Paul in the midſt of want knew how t'abound,
And counted all things loſs till Chriſt was found
Had nothing, yet with all things was poſſeſt,
¶ None but the gracious Soul is truly bleſt.
How full ſoever this my Ciſtern be,
God's the grand-Fountain, nay, the Ocean-ſea
Of all enjoyments: All my Springs and Streams
Are in, and from him; at his Golden beams
My Candle's tin'd; thus faith on God doth pitch,
It is his bleſſing onelyonly can make rich:
Fiſh the Diſciples may, tug and take pain,
But till Chriſt come, their labour is in vain;
The gaping chinks and chaſmes of my Soul,
He can fill up, who is my All, my Whole.
Eſau had much, he, that God his can call
With Jacob, more enjoys, for he hath all;
Theſe are rich Cab nets, but God's countenance,
His Light, O that's the Jewel we enhance!
A ſingle God is infinitely ſweeter,
Then all deriv'd good things, and always better.
O may I with my Subſtance honor thee,
Great God! Marias ointment could not be
Brought to a better Mart, then when 'twas ſhed
Abroad, ſo frankly on her Saviours head;
Dote not (my Soul) in God is all thy ſprings,
On theſe poor earthly, droſſy, dirty things.
12. On Abuſe.
GIve, give, the Horſe-leech cries, we more do crave,
And yet do ſtill abuſe the things we have:
This man abuſes Honor, that his Riches,
Him drink beſots, this dainty fare bewitches;
And is't not juſt with God to take from us
His Bleſſings, ſeeing we abuſe them thus?
Nullum bonum eſt quo quis non male utatur
impii Divina beneficia corrumpunt.
13. On an Academy.
SOme graceleſs ones that haunt thoſe publick Schools,
(Ho…s-like) evade meer Atheiſts, Scripture-fools,
Such as for holy ends improve their parts,
May bleſs God for ſuch Nurſeries of Arts.
14. On Acceptation.
CHriſt bears the names of Saints upon his Breſt,
Preſents them to his Father, in requeſt
So brings he them, God through Chriſt will treat,
And parley with us from his Mercy-ſeat:
He accepts what we do, therein delights,
And makes us to become his Favourites.
We to Gods eye in Chriſts bloud by reflexion,
Seem of a ſanguine, beautiful Complexion.
So have I ſeen each object to the view,
Through the red Glaſs ſeem of a ruddy hiew.
15. On Acceptation of perſons.
NOr God, nor nature, death, nor devil do
Reſpect mens perſons, onelyonly Man doth ſo;
Perſons ſhould be regarded for their faith,
Not faith for perſons (as a wiſe man ſaith.)
Accept of me in Chriſt, O God, my King,
So wilt thou be well-pleas'd with what I bring.
16. On Accounts.
GReat God! when I would caſt up the accounts
Of all my ſins, their number far ſurmounts,
Th'hairs on my head, the Heavens Starry bands,
Earths blades of graſs, the Sea beleag'ring ſands.
Lord, onelyonly thou the great Arithmetitian,
Canſtſum them up; let Chriſt be my Phyſician,
His mer'ts are infinite, with which he ſtops
The mouth of Juſtice, thoſe ſanguineous drops
That trickled down his wounds is balm to heal
My ſoul; for pardon I through him appeal
To thee, dear Lord, 'tis Mercy that I crave,
Thy ſaving Mercy let thy ſervant have.
17. On an Accuſer.
THe Devil, that grand accuſer of our Souls,
Hath not his name for nought, what bloudy ſcrouls
Hath he againſt mans ſelf, and now and than
Accuſeth man to God, vea God to man:
Angels accuſe us, and the Law likewiſe,
The Judge himſelf accuſes, Conſcience flies
In our guilt-bluſhing faces, ſmners be
Againſt us; none but Chriſt can ſet us free,
From all our accuſations, run my ſoul
To Chriſt by faith, and Chriſt will make thee whole.
18. On Acquaintance.
WOrldly acquaintance miſchief oft attends,
'Tis ſaid, many acquaintance, but few friends
My ſoul, acquaint thy ſelf with God, and reſt
In peace, of all acquaintance his is beſt;
This true friend neither can, nor will deceive thee
Nor in an Orphan-ſtate will never leave thee,
But give thee viſits; promiſes they are
His Bonds; go put thoſe Bonds in ſuit by pray'r.
19. On an Acquittance.
O God, our ſins are debts, and more and more,
We in thy Juſtice Books, ſtill run on ſcore,
Can never pay, and we muſt therefore lie
In Hells black priſon to Eternity.
But O we have a Surety (Chriſt) whoſe death
Alone, can make offended Juſtice ſheath
His keen-edg'd ſword; Love that tranſcends degree,
Our King he dies to ſet us Rebels free:
He ſuffred for our ſins; we by his ſtripes
Are heal'd, and from our eyes all tears he wipes.
The Debt's diſcharg'd, to Juſtice nothing's due,
As our acquittance, writ in bloud, doth ſhew.
20. On Actions.
DO not the Silver-breaſted Rivers go
Back to the wealthy Seas from whence they flow?
So to Gods glory muſt our Actions tend,
As in him they begin, ſo muſt they end.
As from the Sacred Fountain of his Grace
They firſt took riſe, ſo to their proper place
They muſt retire, the Ocean of his Glory
Muſt ſwallow up our Actions tranſitory;
May I, what ever I aſſay to do,
Make God my Alpha, and Omega too.
21. On an Adamant.
OUr hearts are like this unrelenting ſtone,
Nothing can melt them, ſave the bloud alone
Of the Meſſias: O ſweet Jeſus grant
Thy bloud may mollifie my Adamant:
Lord at thine hands a tender heart I crave,
A heart of fleſh, let me thy ſervant have;
So ſhall I love thee, and adore thee ſtill,
And yield obedience to thy Heavenly will.
22. On Addition.
GOd multiplies his Mercies more and more,
Ungrateful we, who to our ſins vaſt ſcore
Add new offences daily; but be't known,
God hath large ſhowres of vengeance to pour down
Upon our guilty ſouls, unleſs we rent
Our rocky hearts, and ſpeedily repent.
23. On an Adjective.
THe World's an Adjective, it cannot ſtand,
Without a Subſtantive, th'Almighties Hand:
And I can nothing ſignifie at all
Without Gods Grace, unpropt by it I fall.
24. On an Adieu.
THe Old man bids the World adieu,
When he can ſtay no longer in it,
He whom Gods Spirit did once renew,
Had rather loſe the World that win it.
That he in Heaven with Chriſt may dwell,
He longs to bid the World farewell.
25. On an Adjourn.
DEar Lord! how apt are we t'adjourn
The day and hour of our Return
From ſin to thee! from morn to noon
We put it off, ſay 'tis too ſoon;
And when lifes Sun is almoſt ſet,
O then we dying thee forget.
26 On Admonition.
WOrds ſeaſonably ſpoke, are like unto
Apples of Gold, in Silver Pictures ſet;
And if well taken, O what good they do,
They ſtir us up to duties we forget.
We ſhould not Admonition deteſt,
The wiſe man ſaith 'tis needful for the beſt.
*Prov. 9. 9, 15, 12.27. On Adoption.
WE were not born Gods children, but ſo made;
The Dev'le, we for our natural father had;
Through Grace ſnatch'd from th'old Family of Hell,
In Heavens noble Family Saints dwell;
Are diſoblig'd from ſin, new names receive,
And an Eſtate which they ſhall never leave,
Pleaſant and ſafe; to an inheritance
In light, kept for them; them doth he advance,
The heirs ſhall never die, for be it known
Eternitie's a Jewel of their Crown.
Man, he Adopts a defect to ſupply;
God, out of pity, not nece…ſity.
He had an only Son, nor lov'd he any
Like him, Man but one heir adopts, he many;
Hath Land for all; Man ſoon adopts a Son,
A Deed is ſealed, and the thing is don,
But when God was about to conſtitute
Us Sons and Heirs, his wiſdom could find out
No eaſie way, he could not ſeal a Deed
But by his own Sons bloud, his Son muſt bleed.
Men on adopted perſons entail do
Their Land, but God his Land himſelf too.
O what great Portions to Gods Heirs do fall,
Heaven's theirs, Glory is theirs, yea, God and All!
How precious are their Names, their Prayrs Tears, blood
…n Gods eſteem, and O that Satans brood,
Nay Traytors ſhould be made Heirs to the Crown,
Such Love was never to the Angels ſhown.
And O what Sweets from out the Goſpel flower
May a Believer ſuck! when in our gore
We tumbling lay, and were with ſin bemir'd,
And neither deſerv'd love, nor love deſir'd;
He lov'd us then, when we had ſoild, defac'd
His Image, broke his Law, us he embrac▪d,
When we by Sin our Pedigree had loſt,
He did reſtore it to us to his coſt.
28. On Adoration.
ANgels and Saints, my fellow-creatures be,
And therefore ſhall not be ador'd by me;
God who hath made me, and did me reſtore,
Him only, and none elſe I muſt adore.
29. On Advancement.
1.
OUr Bleſt Redeemer fanci'd,
Humility even ſo,
Our way to be Advanced,
Muſt be by being low.
2.
He had all in Fruition,
Yet for our ſakes did pitch,
Upon a mean condition,
That us he might enrich.
3.
This Prince ineſtimable
By whom the World is ſwaid,
Was in a homely Stable,
Born of a Mother-Maid.
4.
The Heav'ns could not contain him,
Yet him a cratch did hold;
Fools did indeed diſdain him,
But wiſe men brought him Gold.
5.
He faſted, and was tempted,
To feaſt us with his Grace,
That we might be exempted,
Oppreſt with griefs he was.
6.
W'are by his ſhame renowned,
And eaſed by his pain;
We by his Croſs are Crowned,
And by his loſs we gain.
7.
On Earth, he was a ſtranger,
That we might be Gods Sons;
He paſt through Death and danger,
To m…e us ſit on Thrones.
All Glory be to him therefore,
Aſcrib'd, both now and evermore.
30. On Advantage.
THe World in one Scale, bleſſed Jeſus lays,
The Soul in t'other, and the Soul out-weighs
To gain the World, and loſe the precious Soul,
Is ſuch a vantage, as the damn'd condole.
31. On an Adventure.
O How ſad were my Adventures!
Thus to forfeit mine Indentures,
But to pay my juſt Debentures,
Into Bond my Saviour enters.
O my Soul, ſin no more,
Leſt worſe fall then did before.
Magnum eſt memorabile facinus non ſit abſque periculo. Tertul.
32. On an Adverb.
LIve, thats and Act, but much Divinity
Lies couch'd in this one Adverb holily.
33. On Adverſity.
THe Sts. like Glo-worms, in the darkeſt night
Of ſad afflictions, do reflect moſt bright,
Rue is the Herb of Grace, oft times our woe
Becomes our weal, our Saviour found it ſo;
For firſt he Vinegar and Gall drank down
O'th' Croſs, e're he receiv▪d his glorious Crown:
Mourning laſts but till morning, nightly ſorrow
Is Herald to a joyful ſhining morrow.
Now Storms ariſe, anon a proſperous Gale,
Fans curteous blaſts, upon the ſwelling Sail.
34. On Adultery.
ALL other ſins may be ſubdu'd by might,
Adult'rate mixtures only are by flight;
Flee Fornication, holy Paul doth ſay,
Yet O how many like fed Horſes neigh
After their neighbours Mates: the Browniſt ſtrives
For all things to be common, Ergo Wives.
35. On an Advocate.
O Happy Mary for whom Jeſus pleads,
Judas condemns, but he commends thy deed…
Judas accuſe, and ſlander while thou wilt,
Juſus acquits, and clears us of our guilt.
Earth judges evil, what Heav'n pronounceth good
The moving Rhet'rick of our Advocates blood,
Pleads ſtrongly for us, and we need not fear,
Though all the Devil's in Hell againſt us were.
Our Sav'ours bloud which on the Croſs was ſpilt,
Quenches Gods wrath, and ſatisfies for guilt.
Such as for help unto the Mother run,
Shall have but little ſuccor from the Son.
36. On Affection.
KInd Mary pours an Alabſter Box,
Of precious Spikenard on her Saviours feet,
And with her chiefeſt Ornament, her Locks,
She wipes them, humbleneſs and zeal her meet.
O how doth love in Maries heart abound,
She ſerves God, not by th'ounce, but by the pound!
37. On Afflictions.
HOw light afflictions are! how tranſitory,
Compared to the weight of endleſs glory!
Or if compar▪d to ſin, or if to Hell,
And yet when our proud hearts do riſe and ſwell,
We think them heavy, for they preſs us down,
Many diſlike the Croſs, but not the Crown:
Tis true affliction hath a vexing ſting,
But know withal, it hath a flying wing;
The ſhadows of the night ſhall flee away,
And we ſhall ſee an everlaſting day;
Afflict'ons water like a Land-flood ſhall
Be ſoon dry'd up, the Saints riſe by their fall,
Their night-cloaths flung a…ide, they ſhall be dreſt
In rich array, and be for ever bleſt.
38. On Agents.
SAtannick Agents, are rubbiſh to ſcour
The Veſſels of Gods houſe, Aſhur had pow'r
To vex Gods Iſrael, this being done
The ſmarting rod into the fire is thrown.
'Tis ſaid, the rod of wicked ones ſhall not
Alway remain upon the righteous lot.
39. On Air.
THe Throne of night and day, the airy main,
The mint of winds, the treaſures houſe of rain,
Becomes the common diſh, (ſo Heaven decreed)
Whereon all creatures every moment feed.
40. On an Alarm.
SOund an Alarm, thy Meſſengers fulfil,
Thy pleaſure Lord, …et men are drowzy ſtill.
O when thy ſecond Trumpet ſhall be ſounded,
The unbelieving World ſhall be confounded.
41. On an Albe.
THis veſtment in it ſelf is pure from ſin,
But yet not holy, nor are all within
That wear't, Lord make me inwardly ſincere,
No matter then what outwardly I wear.
42. On an Alehouſe.
THoſe common Quagmires of all naughtineſs,
And rendezvouz for ſuch a love exceſs:
All ſober men decline, the lowzie Alehouſe
Fits men firſt for the Gaol, and next the Gallows.
43. On an Alembi…k.
MAns heart's a Chymick, Limbeck that diſtils▪
The tears of grief …arm'd with the ſenſe of ills;
O when for ſin, m… Spirit'al Stillatory,
Drop… holy tears, thine be, O Lord the Glory.
44. On Almes.
WE to receive Gods Bleſſings in, have ſtor…
Of hands (like Bri'…us,) to r…lieve the poo…
We have but one to uſe, and that alas!
Is withered too, as Jeroboams was.
Its not enough to ſay, God help, and give
Good words, unleſs the hungry we relieve;
The Poor like the Camelion cannot feed
Upon light Air: Give unto ſuch as need;
Let Artaxerxes like our open Palms,
Be liberal in diſtributing Alms.
45. On Allowance.
OUr daily Bread, is from Gods daily care,
Who feeds the wing'd Citizens of the Air:
Doth he not alſo cloath us day by day,
Who decks the Lillies in ſuch rich aray?
Thus having food, the commons God hath ſent,
And raiment too, let's be therewith content.
46. On an Altar.
GReat God! upon the Altar of my heart,
I offer up the Sacrifice of praiſe
To thee; be pleas'd to take it in good part,
And make me glorifie thy Name always:
Let who will prize Altars of Wood or Stone,
There's no ſuch Altar as a Fleſhly one.
47. On Ambition.
DEſires that but the Poles no limits know,
How they tranſport that man in whom they grow
Such as aſpire at Honors higheſt pitch,
Like gazing Thales tumble down the Ditch.
Great God! when my ambitious thoughts would climb
To get a name by works compos'd of ſlime,
Check thou my ſinful pride, let me not reach
At ſuch a union as may cauſe a breach;
Nor cloſe with ſin, but ſtill to minde recall
Great Babels building, was great Babels fall.
Sen. Trag. 6.
Quo fortunatius crexit ac levatit humanas opes, hoc ſe ſupprimere magis felicem decet.
Sequitur ſuperbos ultor a vergo Deus.
foreign magna moles magna ruina.
48. On Almoſt.
ALas! how many have ſalvation loſt,
For want of thorough Reformation?
The almoſt Chriſt'an ſhall be ſav'd almoſt,
But quite to all eternity undone.
The Crown belongs to ſuch as perſevere,
As good never a whit, as ne're the neer.
49. On Alpha and Omega.
OF all thy labors, and intentions, ſee
That God thy Alpha and Omega be.
He that's the Alpha of all Mercies, ſhall
Be the Omega of my ſervice all.
50. On Amen.
IT gives aſſent to what before was ſpoken,
Tis an aſſuring, aſſevering Token.
Let's pray in faith, that when conclude we do
With our Amen, Heav'n may ſay Amen too.
51. On Amendment.
AƲguſtus ſaid of Galba's crooked back,
Warn thee I can, better I cannot make:
God in his goodneſs Miniſters doth ſend us,
To warn us, but it is his grace muſt mend us.
If we remend our lives, and by Gods grace
Reform what is a miſs, he will imbrace
Us in his loving armes, lay by his Rod,
And be to us a reconciled God.
52. On Anarchy.
THe members have their head; the Stars the Sun,
Nature abhors kingleſs confuſion.
53. On Anathema.
OH to b'Anathematiz'd
And deliver'd up to Satan,
Is, if rightly exercis'd,
Worſe than what befell to Dathan.
Serious cenſures were but ſports,
Heretofore in ſome mens Courts.
54. On Anotamy.
… Ubſtract Chriſt and his Members, holy ones,
The world is nothing but a Trunk of bones.
55. On an Anchor.
¶ WHo upwards on his God hopes Anchor caſts,
Can triumph in the midſt of ſtormy blaſts.
56. On Angels.
ANgels heav'ns nobles; thoſe bright flaming powr's,
Untainted Spirits, are the Saints Servitors,
While here they live, and when of life bereaven,
Thoſe bleſſed Convoys carry them to heaven.
Thus they attended Abram, Daniel, Mary,
And Laz'…us when dead, did to glory carry.
Saints by creation are than Angels lower,
But Saints above them by adoption ſoar.
57. On Anger.
MOroſus is like Flax, or Gun-powder,
No ſooner touch'd but he is all on fire;
And raging, not unlike the furious wi…d.
Vents out the wilde diſtempers of his mind.
Anger is a ſhort madneſs, it ſuſpends
The uſe of Reaſon, it eſtrangeth Friends.
Be angry, there's the reins; angry at ſin,
But ſin not, there's the bridle curbs us in.
Hearken to Socrates, if thou wouldſt fly
Raſh Anger, think on Gods all-viewing eye.
As the Divine Philoſopher doth ſay,
The beſt way to lay Anger, is delay. *
*Maximum irae remedium eſt mora. See Sen.58. On an Angler.
GOd is an Angler, ſo is Satan too,
He takes to ſave, but Satan to undo.
59. On Antichriſt.
PEter lays by his ſword, and takes the Keyes,
The Pope lays by his Keyes, and now adayes
Falls to his ſword; yet many to him flock,
As if he had the Key t▪undo Heav▪ns lock.
60. On an Antidote.
GOds ſacred Word is, and hath ever bin
A ſov'raign Antidote againſt all ſin.
Lord, if thy med'c…nable Wo…d diſpell
Sins venom from m… heart, I ſhall be well.
61. On Antipathy.
THe ſtrong-rib▪d Oak bears an antipathie
Gainſt the pale Olive; and the thrifty Bee
Againſt the pilfring Waſp; diſcord doth breed
Betwixt the Serpents, and the Womans ſeed;
But moſt of all in man, mans fleſh and blood
Is enmity againſt God, and what is good.
62. On Antiquity.
WHat is moſt ancient, is the trueſt Text,
We read firſt God ſays, and the devil ſays next.
What God affirms, the Tempter he denies;
Gods truths are elder than the Devils lies.
63. On Ants.
SEeſt thou theſe little Patterns of great pain,
Lugg in their mouths their mighty loads of grain
And fill the…r hollow-vaulted Cells, that ſo
(While others pine) they may with plenty flow.
¶ Who in the winter would not ſuffer want,
Muſt labor in the ſummer with the Ant.
64. On an Ape.
SAtan Gods Ape, that Prince of darkneſs can
Shine like an Angel, to delude poor man.
65. On an Apparitor.
SUmmond by death, th'Apparitor of Heaven,
Appear we muſt, and an account be given.
66. On Apparel.
ADam he ſins, as ſoon as he preceives his ſhame, he makes him breeches of fig-leavs
And afterwards he clothes with coats of skins
His nakedneſs, but could not hide his ſins.
Thus man at firſt for need did clothes invent,
Which ſince are us'd for pomp and ornament;
Gorgious attire, and ſilken braverie,
Is but the badge of our deſert to die;
What thief was ever of his Halter proud,
Although a ſilken one were him allow'd?
If ſo, methinks our proud fantaſtick Jacks,
Should bluſh to carry all upon their backs,
As of his learning Bias ſaid, I bear
All mine with me, ſo they of what they wear,
Yet oft they ſtand, for all their lofty looks
Deeply recorded in their Mercers books:
Fair feathers now adavs do make fair Fowls,
Bodies are better cloath'd alas! then Souls,
O if Chriſts righteous Robes my ſoul adorn,
No matter though my clothes were thred-bare worn.
Stultiſſimus eſt, qui hominem ex veſtibus eſtimat.
Externa non commendant hominem.
Cic.
Quanto ornatior tanto nequitior.
Heu nunc ſplendidus veſtitus diſcolor animus.
Marcel.
67. On the Appetite.
HOw dull to good is our ſouls appetite?
But ah! what's bad we reliſh with delight.
68. On an Apple.
ONe Apple did undoe our Grandam Eve,
And the whole world, yet daily we receive
Forbidden fruits; alas! unwholſom food
We love, and loath what is intirely good.
69. On the Apple of the eye.
GOds people are the Apple of his eye,
O do not make this tender Apple cry;
God his eye's Apple charily doth keep,
O how it grieves him when 'tis made to weep!
70. On Application.
THe skilful Preacher having cleard his Text,
Derives fit Doctrines thence, applies it next,
The bow the explication onelyonly bends,
Fits for the mark, but application ſends
The arrows home: how Davids heart began
To ſink, when Nathan ſaid, Thou art the man.
71. On Apoſtacy.
WE are the Lord of hoſts his armed bands,
And the Church is the field; us Chriſt commands
The Word & Sacraments our colours be;
The Colonie of Saints our Companie;
Who fly this Field, revolt from this Commande…
Forſake this Colour, from this comp'nv wande…
By damnd Apoſtacie, to ſerve the Devil,
Hells Prince, and firſt o…ginal of evil,
Chriſt'an'ties, foes, Religions grand diſgrace,
Theſe are, beſides, O how do the… debaſe,
And of a glorious Crown bereave themſelves,
Incur Gods heavy wrath, nefandous Elves?
¶ Such as from Chriſt to hels black Monarch r…
Shall find him cruel, and themſelves undo…e.
72. On the Apoſtles.
CHriſts Vicars, the Apoſtles equal were
For Rule, Power, Honor, Peter did not bear
Supremacy; all did in gifts excell,
Yet one (and he the richeſt) went to Hell.
73. On an Arbitrator.
CHriſt Jeſus is the onelyonly Arbiter,
By whom to God we reconciled are.
74. On an Arch-Biſhop.
CHriſt is the true Arch-Biſhop of our ſouls,
He overſees, and our Eſtate condoles.
75. On an Archer.
THe devils an Archer, & mans heart the whi…
On whi…h his fi'ry Darts of Trials light.
76. On an Argument.
TO ſeek and ſave loſt ſinners Chriſt is come,
The argument that mov'd him was draw… from
The Topicks of his Love, there was alas!
No mer't in us to bring ſuch things to paſs.
77. On Arithmetick.
OUr ſins to ſuch a reck'ning are amounted,
As cannotby the numb'ring Art be counted.
78. On an Ark.
When the rebellious world for ſin was drownd
Juſt Noah was preſerved ſafe and ſound.
O wonderful! the wave-ſupported Ark,
…im, hi…, and ſome of all kinds did imbark.
… Chriſt is the Ark, and ſuch as are in him,
They ſhall (when others ſink) be ſure to ſwim:
The Ark is Gods Church, who out of it are found
…hall not be ſaved, but ingulfd and drown'd
… his wraths deluge; the Pitch repreſents
…ove, which the Members of the Church cements
…nd knits together; as without, within
…he Ark was pitch'd; ſo open and unſeen
… every Chriſtians love, to let us know
…heir love is true, as well as love in ſhow.
…leſt Pitch! which not defileth, but the more
…is touch'd, it makes more Holy than before:
…he Ark had divers rooms, the Churches borders
…ath men of divers gifts, degrees, and orders.
…he Ark held Beaſts unclean, as well as clean,
…ome that are in the true Church live in ſin:
…he Goſpel is the window in the Ark,
…reaching the light, enlightening the dark
And ſhady underſtanding, that imparts
So bright a luſtre as revives mens hearts.
Chriſt is the door that appertains thereto,
See thou do not in at a wrong door go.
The Church (as was the Ark) is very large,
Whereof Chriſt (as the head) takes ſpecial charg…
The Flood doth the Baptiſmal water ſhew,
Which kills the old man, and preſerves the new:
In fine, the Ark was toſſed to and fro,
By the cariering Flouds, now ſinks as low
As Hells profunditude, but by and by
It ſeems to kiſs the Star-embroidered skie;
Ev'n ſo th'militant Church which Chriſt doth ow…
With juſtling waves is tumbled up & down
Yea ev'ry Saint is this, and that way hurld,
Toſs'd like a foot-ball by the mad-cap World
Toſs'd by the pamper'd fleſh, toſs'd by the De…
That grand Tartarian Counſelor to evil,
Toſs'd by enchanting ſin which ſoon would re…
In pieces, if our God did not defend us;
But guided and preſerv'd through Gods go… gra…
We ſpit defiance in our enemies face.
Ark-like the Church, riſing by falls, out-braves
The churliſh threats of the inſulting Waves.
The more the Flouds of perſecution riſe,
They drive the Ark the nearer to the Skies,
And when the raging Tide ſhall ceaſe to roar,
And waters ebb, this Ark ſhall land on ſhore:
This Ark which ſtorms could never ruinate,
Shall reſt on the Caeleſtial Ararat.
This Ark by the Almighties guidance driven,
Shall land ev'n in that peaceful haven, Heaven.
The Ark toſs'd Saints ſhall one day be poſſeſt
Of laſting glory, and eternal reſt,
Eternal reſt; a reſt that doth remain
For them, by them expe…ted not in vain.
O bleſſed reſt! by which we ſhall be freed
From woes and foes, O there's a reſt indeed!
To which Heav'n bring us, who by Faith partake
Of Chriſt his merits, for his own names ſake.
79. On Armour.
GOds Armour is of proof, againſt all evill
Shot at us from the world, the Fleſh, the Devil,
His Helmet, Breſt-plate, Shield, Sword, Girdle, Shoes,
Will both defend us, and offend our foes.
80. On an Arreſt.
O Eath is a Serjeant, and he Warrants brings
For our Arreſt, from the great King of Kings.
The greateſt and the leaſt, the worſt the beſt,
Have ſinned, and muſt ſubmit to deaths Arreſt.
81. On an Arrow.
O When God ſends his Arrows from his Bow,
It muſt needs work a ſpeedy overthrow;
When from his twanging Bow the Dev'l lets fly
Tentation's Arrow, God can put it by.
82. On Arts.
Life's ſhort, but Art is long; * Natural parts
Are by the ſtudy of the Liberal Arts
Very much heightned: but Arts golden Ring
Set with Grace Di'mond is a glorious thing.
*foreign. Hyp.83. On Articles.
CHriſt by his death hath cancel▪d Juſtice ſcroul…
Of Articles, drawn up againſt our ſouls.
84. On Ar…llery.
MY ſoul groan thunder, let thy pray'rs & tea…
Be thine Artillery, to ſtorm Gods ears.
85. On Aſcenſi…n.
CHriſt by Angels was attended,
When he into Heav'n aſcended;
At the Reſurrections morn,
Thither ſhall the Saints be born.
86. On Aſhes.
AShes hides fire, what God for us hath done▪
We hide in th'aſhes of Oblivion.
87. On Asking.
WHo asks ſhall have, if Lord, it be thy task
To grant, well may I make it mine to ask▪
88. On an Aſs.
MEn blame the Aſs for creeping on the Road▪
Yet go more ſluggiſh in the ways of God.
89. On an Aſſault.
FAiths ſhield is good againſt the dev'ls aſſault,
Yet oft we want it through our own default.
90. On an Aſſize.
THe grand Aſſize draws on, the Judge is juſt,
And by his Verdict ſtand or fall we muſt.
91. On Aſſiſtance.
O God, if thou withdraw thy gracious hand
From us, we fall; if thou aſſiſt, we ſtand.
92. On Aſſurance.
A Sſurance that Chriſt is ours may be gain'd,
The Saints have it deſir'd, to it attain'd;
…ome more, ſome leſs, there are degrees we know
…ometimes it ebbs, always it doth not flow.
…ſſurance (which few have) is a rare Gem.
God from his people, for to humble them,
…ometimes withdraws it, through our careleſneſs
…ometimes we want it, and our Chriſtian peace.
… how the dev'l diſturbs! when once we meet
…ith this Aſſurance, oh tis very ſweet!
…'oft hang our harps upon the limber willows,
…nd weep (as Iſr'el) by the water-billows
…or want of this; this Wine of Paradiſe,
…evives the heart, how comfortable is
Gods ſmile! Aſſurance makes the low ſublime,
…nd puts a man in heav'n before his time.
…ſſurance is exceeding profitable;
… makes a Chriſtian ſtrenuous and able
…or ſervice, free to do what muſt be done.
…aith makes a Chriſtian walk, Aſſurance run.
Aſſurance is a Flow'r that only grows
In a pure heart, a ſpring whence comfort flows:
A Whetſtone to the Graces, Hope, Love, Zeal;
A weight that of obedienre moves each Wheel,
Be much in duty; keep thy conſc'ence pure,
Act faith, and thou haſt made thy calling ſure.
93.
On Aſtrologie.
On Aſtronomy.
AStrol'gy ſhows the Stars effects and force,
Aſtronomy, their Meaſure, Motions, Courſe,
And though this hath its being from the other,
I like the Daughter, love who will the Mother.
94. On Atheiſts.
AUdacious Atheiſts to the world proclaim,
They love ſuch deeds, as might the De… ſha…
Atheiſts are worſe then Devils; Devils do
Believe there is a God, and tremble too;
Thoſe ſay, there is no God, who doth take care
Of things below, have neither faith nor fear.
The Devil quakes at the Day of Judgment; they
Deride it, which will ſhortly them diſmay.
Strange! ev'n the Sons their ſire in ſins excell;
What! Atheiſts here on Earth, when none in Hel…
95. On Attonement.
WE had offended Heav'n; deſerved Hell,
Chriſt an attonement makes, & all is well.
96. On Augmentation.
Who worketh out with fear his own ſalvation,
This ſpirit'al living, gets an augmentation.
97. On Attributes.
GOd ſingle is, as being uncompounded,
He's infinite, and therefore is unbounded;
Immutable, th'Eternal, Three in one,
Who by his back-parts onelyonly can be known;
Moſt wiſe, moſt ſtrong, moſt true, moſt good, moſt juſt,
Moſt merciful, believe in him we muſt;
Perfect, and bleſs'd, and glorious is he,
O if this God be ours, how bleſt are we!
98 On Auricular confeſſion.
THe Scripture bids, and what it bids is beſt,
Confeſs to God, not to the Popiſh Prieſt;
Auricular confeſſion taught in ſchools,
How it enſnares the conſciences of fools!
What is it but a ſuperſtitious Gin
To nouriſh, yea, and harden men in ſin.
My ſoul confeſs thy ſins to God alone,
And he will pardon what thou haſt miſdone.
99. On Authority.
THe Law's Authority, depends
On God, the mighty King of Kings,
And this exceedingly commends,
Its worth above all humane things:
How precious is the Law of God?
My ſoul upon it always plod.
100. Of the Authors of things, according to Scripture.
GOd by his pow'r (which may not be withſtood)
Created all things admirably good:
He fram'd the firſt of men out of the ground,
Gave him a reas'ning ſoul, by which he found
Out many Arts and Sciences; none doubt
But Moſes found the uſe of Letters out,
Firſt Poeſie compos'd, penn'd Hiſtories:
Tubal the crooked Harp did firſt deviſe.
Muſical Inſtruments David invented,
Philoſophy in Jewry firſt was minted.
Egypt found Aſtrology, Arithmetick,
As alſo Medicine to heal the ſick.
Firſt were the Perſ'ans fam'd for Magick Skill,
Moſes firſt Law-giver divulg'd Gods will?
Egypt firſt own'd the Government by Kings;
The Hebrew Commonwealths; Servitude ſpring…
From Canaan; the Jews the Year out found,
And its 12 months, before the world was drown…
Meek Moſes found out Inſtruments of War,
As Cain of Husbandry; firſt Vine-dreſſer
Old Noah was; Adam firſt names devis'd
For living things; Abel firſt ſacrific'd.
Adam firſt cloath'd himſelf with Skins of beaſts▪
Cain the firſt City built; of Ships and Cheſts
Noah was Author. Gods Church was at firſt
In Adams family, both bred and nurſt.
The faithfuls Father firſt did circumciſe;
Chriſts Herald John, did firſt of all baptize
With Baptiſm of repentance; Chriſt went higher,
Baptizing with the Holy Ghoſt and Fire.
By Moſes, Aaron (ſo God appointed)
Was to the High-prieſts Office firſt anointed.
Noah firſt built an Altar to the Lord,
And thereon offred of his own accord,
An Holo-cauſt. The Prince of Hell the Devil,
He is the principle, and root of evil.
Of the firſt Authors of things, according to profane Authors.
THe Aeginetans firſt of all ſtamp'd Money;
Firſt Ariſteus taught the uſe of Honey.
The firſt Tooth-drawer Aeſculapius was;
Anaximander found the Hour-glaſs.
Angaeas (though a King) firſt dungd the ground;
The uſe of Bellows Anacharſis found.
Anchus of Ovens to bake Bread withal:
Firſt Anagallis playd with Tennis-ball.
Architas, Rattles; Belgians Wains firſt made,
Boetius taught the Coblers ſubtile Trade.
Corſes firſt ſhav'd his Beard; Daedalus Shops
Invented; Danaus Wells; Grecians Tops:
Icarus Sayls; Perillus Bulls of Braſs;
Thon Drugs, Pan Pipes, Sinon the Looking-glaſs.
Phaenicians Slings, Scythians Arrows, Bowes;
Cyneras Pinſers, Hammers, Anvils, Crowes
Deviſed firſt; no more I will make known,
Who would know more, may ſearch * as I have done.
*See Pliny, Polydore, Virgil, Paneyrol, &c.101. On Autumn.
TH… S…lvan quire ceaſe their harmonious notes,
And ſullen forreſts d'on their yellow coats;
Ceres bright locks are ſhorn; the mellow fruits
Are torn from laden boughs; their ſummer ſutes
The ſapleſs branches d'off, the gaudy ground
Is now diſrob'd, the year with plenty crown'd.
Great God! thou ſowſt th… words immortal ſeed
On the ground of our hearts, but ah! they breed
The weeds of ſin, in us theſe weeds deſtroy,
That we a joyful Harveſt may enjoy.
102. On Awe.
SHould God from Sinai thunder forth his Law,
(As once) 'twould ſtrike us with a dreadful aw,
Since he in Goſpel-mildneſs doth appear,
O let us ſerve him with an holy fear.
103. On an Axe.
THe Axe is heav… ſharp, to cut and hew
In pieces for the fire; or elſe to ſquare,
The Axe without the ha…d can nothing do;
Gods Judgments, and his Comminations are
His Axe in …hoſe reſpects, and ev'y Tree
That brings not forth good fruit, hew down and burn'd ſhal be.
104. On an Axel-tree.
THe Nations Axel-tree doth ev'n begin
To ſink under the preſſing weight of ſin,
O Chriſt the Saviour of the World be pleas'd
To bear our burden, and we ſhall be ea…'d.